Enhancement of wear and corrosion resistance of polyvinyl chloride/sorghum straw-based composites in cyclic sea water and acid rain conditions

Plant fiber reinforced polymer composites are experiencing rapid growth in terms of applications where they may be subject to corrosion and wear. The present work explores the possibility of reinforcing polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/sorghum straw (SS) composites with micro-silica (MS) and poly(acrylonitrile-styr ene-acrylate) (ASA) for developing a new corrosion and wear-resistant material. Sea water (salinity 3.5%, temperature 55 degrees C) and acid rain (pH 2.5, temperature 55 degrees C) were utilized to simulate extreme cyclic corrosion conditions. The results revealed that the wear and corrosion resistance of the PVC/SS composites was significantly enhanced by the addition of 6 wt% MS (particle size 2.6 mu m) and 34% ASA, which was attributed to that the MS and ASA could render the PVC matrix with the improved toughness, strength, and heat resistance. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.